“Am I free to use the restroom? I’ve really gotta take a piss.”

  “Of course.”

  Agent Issac stood and led me out of the room and further down the hall where the restroom was. It was a single-use, non-gender-specific bathroom with a decent-sized window by the toilet. I closed the door and locked it. I could hear them outside the door, talking to each other in whispered tones. If I wanted to, I could hear what they were saying. I didn’t give a damn. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, held it for a moment then released it.

  When I looked at my reflection in the mirror I knew I couldn't stay. Red is bleeding into my eyes. I had fed recently so I know that’s not the issue. No, it’s the strong emotions that just thinking about my father brought up. Strong emotions, as well as hunger, can push me to lose control.

  Taking another deep breath I light the cigarette I’m still holding and take a long draw from it before placing it in the sink. I turn to the window and give it a once over before unlocking and opening it up. Carefully, I pulled out the screen and set it down.

  I take a quick look at the door and shake my head. As much as I’d like more information I can’t be around humans like this. Not until I get control of myself. With as much stealth as I can manage I pull myself through the window. The breeze felt amazing, freeing, as I hung off the window sill three stories from the ground. This would be a really bad idea if I was human.

  I find myself grinning as I slide down the side of the building. I leave a trail of grooves on the building, fingers digging into the building material to keep me from going down too fast. For the last couple of feet, I jumped off and landed on my feet. My feet barely had time to touch the pavement before I’m off running. I need to put as much distance between us as I can.

  I am a living cliche. An idiot sandwich who decided that going to a familiar place while running from the feds was a good idea. I ran straight for work once I was certain no one had seen me. Here I was, just after sunset, crouched on the roof waiting for the parking lot to empty. It would have been better if I’d just kept running but I had stashed a backpack of supplies here, back when I first started working. Every few months I would switch out supplies to guarantee they were fresh and ready to go.

  After verifying that the parking lot was empty I jumped off the side of the building. Using the keys that I hadn’t turned in, I unlocked the back door and slipped in, heading straight for the cooler. I let out a sigh of relief once I had the backpack and slung it over my shoulder. There were things in it that the government did not need access to.

  A scream pierces the quiet and I froze, hand out and reaching for the doorknob. The scream came again and realization dawned on me; Fry’s car was in the shop, she must have stayed late with the intention of calling a cab. Shit! All thoughts of running are pushed to the back of my mind as I rush to where the screams had come from. Fry is the only human that I’ve connected with since I left home. She’s the only friend I have out here and I can’t just leave when I could help her.

  I turn to the chip aisle and stop dead in my tracks. Fry was bent over in the middle of the aisle, arms holding her stomach as she spits up blood. Her skin was pale and taking on a grey-green hue. In the seconds I had stood watching her her skin had started to dry up and she was beginning to growl.

  She’s mutating. Damn it! Fucking piece of shit. Dropping the backpack from my shoulder I opened it and dug down, pulling out a tin box. Inside are two syringes filled with a red substance. I take one out and drop the box after closing it. In a matter of seconds, I’m on her, plunging the needle into her arm and pushing down the plunger.

  Fry had closely resembled a mummy just a moment before, now she was curled up on the floor screaming as her flesh filled back out. I had been too young to remember how the process had felt, though I had seen the videos. Nothing like experiencing centuries of evolution in a matter of minutes.

  She looked mostly human, and thankfully unconscious, by the time I had everything put away and backpack thrown over one shoulder. I didn’t look back as I walked away. My mind was once again in turmoil. I couldn’t just leave her after that, but for now, it was better if I was far away. Safer. I’ll come back for her in a few days, once they’ve stopped looking for me. I stopped the mutation fast enough that her hunger shouldn’t overpower her.

  Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

  I slipped the used needle into a trash can on my way to the back door. I had to hurry before the authorities came. It’s doubtful that someone heard her scream, considering it was a commercial area and late enough that most places were closed. But, better to play it safe.

  “Where are you going?”

  I had just stepped out the back door when the question drew my attention. Agent Issac and Agent Gill were standing only a few feet away, guns drawn and pointed at me. I could see their car parked not far behind them. I guess I hadn’t lost them. Looks like it’s plan B. I raise my hands as I stepped away from the door, letting it slam closed behind me.

  “What a coincidence, just who I was looking for. Were you reading my mind, Agent Issac?” I couldn’t help but grin at the scowl both agents sent me.

  “Damn punk, shut up. What did you do in there?”

  Agent Gill walked up, holstering his gun as he went. He grabbed my arm and pulled it behind my back and pushed me against the building. In no time at all he had my backpack off and my hands cuffed behind my back. He was rougher than the situation called for and the cuffs were tight enough that they bit into my flesh.

  “What? The screams? I’m not sure, I went the other way.”

  It would be easy for them to pull up the store’s video and see exactly what happened. It didn’t mean I could make it easy for them. If it annoyed Agen Gill, all the better. Agent Issac, gun holstered, took me from Agent Gill and led me over to their car. He opened the backseat and guided me in while the other agent looked through my backpack. It was hard to act casually about the whole thing. Not when I couldn’t afford for them to know what was in the syringe.

  “You know, I might get used to this; it’s like I’ve got my own limo service. Nicer than taking a taxi, cheaper, too.”

  The agents were too busy sorting through the contents of my backpack to pay me any attention. Mores the pity. Pretty sure I would have gotten a nice rise out of Agent Gill. I don’t have a whole lot in the backpack; a change of clothes, a tin of syringes, and an assortment of drugs. I don’t use the shit, me under the influence of drugs would end in a massacre. They do help me when I’m out hunting.

  While they’re occupied I break open the handcuffs and climb into the passenger seat. No way am I sitting in the back. Fuck that shit. I could try running again, but that would mean completely abandoning Fry. There is just no point in hiding any longer, he has gone ahead and implemented his plans and it’s too late to stop it. It seemed as if I wasn’t necessary to his plans to destroy the world.

  I pulled a cigarette from my pack and lit it, needing a focus, something to do. The urge to go after my old man is strong, but a stupid idea. I hear movement outside the car and turned to the passenger window in time to see Agent Gill standing with his gun pointed at me, face red with anger. I couldn’t contain the smirk as I released a cloud of smoke in his direction.

  “Agent Gill, stand down.”

  “This fucking asshole needs to be taught some manners. I doubt he’d get far with a bullet to the leg.”

  The jokes on him, I could still escape with a bullet in my leg. Agent Issac came into view behind Agent Gill and placed a hand on his shoulder to hold him back. A twitch had appeared in Agent Gill’s right eye. I could feel how much he wanted to hurt me. I hadn’t even been that bad. I could be much worse.

  “I said, back off. You shoot him and you’re just doing what he wants. He’s just riling you up.”

  “What?” Agent Gill blinked twice then visibly relaxed. He lowered his gun but didn’t put it away. Agent Issac shot me a scowl. Oh, how I love to fuck with people. I chuckled and leaned back in the seat.

  “Your partner is correct. It won’t look good if I get shot like this while in your custody. Grounds to sue and all that. Put us in a courtroom and I can guarantee they’ll believe me over you.”

  Agent Issac shoved the backpack at Gill and turned his back to me.

  “Stay back and check on the status inside the store. Make sure the team checks for surveillance videos. Take this time to cool down.”

  Agent Issace turned back to me and snatched away the cigarette before I could stop him. He ground it out on the pavement and looked at me with narrowed eyes.

  “No smoking in my car.”

  He made his way around the car and got in and pulled out without another word. I gave a wave to Agent Gill as he stared at us. I could see the war in his eyes like he was trying to decide if it was better to do as ordered or come after me.

  “I honestly don’t know why you guys think I’ll cooperate. I asked for help a long time ago and no one gave two fucks. Seems only fair that I not give two fucks about the shit that’s going on.”